Ranking The Star Wars Movies

Hello, dear reader!

Last week marked the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back being released. The film hit theaters on May 21st, 1980, and the world was never quite the same. With its slightly darker yet faithful-to-the-original tone, well-written story and iconic plot twist, The Empire Strikes Back proved just how good a sequel can be, thus making sure that George Lucas's Star Wars wouldn't just be standalone hit but rather an epic franchise that works best as a whole.

Today, I'll be ranking all the Star Wars films (excluding the Holiday Special and Clone Wars movies for obvious reasons), and I want to start by saying that I honestly like all of them. Movie buffs, especially ones who spend time on the internet, will surely know just how toxic and hateful the Star Wars fandom often seems to be - in most of the rankings I've seen, the main point seems to be saying which films you hate the most and which ones ruined your childhood and destroyed everything about the original trilogy et cetera. I guess some fans love Star Wars so much that they wind up hating Star Wars. While I do like the original trilogy slightly more than the prequel/sequel trilogies, I find every single Star Wars film to be very enjoyable and a worthy addition to the franchise, and I've never really gotten why so many fans have reacted to them so aggressively.

Without further ado, here we go!

11. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

It's not as terrible as people make it out to be. Granted, it is a major step down from the quality of the original trilogy, and I can see how it would've felt disappointing to see in theaters when it came out after a 16-year hiatus and long-built hype. But still, I do believe A Phantom Menace has gotten way too much hate its way. Sure, the comic relief character Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) gets quite overdone, the dialogue is often clunky, and the directorial choices feel a bit out of touch with the Star Wars world (which is weird, since this film was directed by original Star Wars director George Lucas). But beyond those flaws, I've found a lot to like in this film, and have therefore enjoyed watching it multiple times!

The prequel format in itself is a win, as it's fascinating to follow the Jedi Order in its glory, as well as the ominous rise of the Sith. While some of the supporting cast aren't that great, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson are awesome as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn. The mysterious Darth Maul makes for an interesting villain, and the final lightsaber fight is intense and well-choreographed, made infinitely better by the track Duel Of The Fates in John Williams's dramatic soundtrack. So, all in all, I find a lot of things worth defending in The Phantom Menace, while still putting it at the bottom of the barrel due to it admittedly having its share of flaws.

10. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (2002)

The second film of the prequel trilogy is already a significant step into the right direction - the general atmosphere of the film simply feels a lot more Star Wars than The Phantom Menace did. This is especially apparent in Obi-Wan's storyline throughout the film, and in George Lucas's directing, as the feeling of fun space adventure in fantastical locations that I love in the original trilogy is once again present, especially when compared to the way Episode I just didn't get that quite right. Therefore, many of the first prequel's flaws are fixed, and at its best moments Episode II feels like a wonderful sci-fi adventure.

So it's a real shame that there's another side to that coin.

The reason for this film being only 10th on my list, despite its many victories, is the frankly quite awful storyline of Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Padme's (Natalie Portman) romance. There's nothing wrong with a good love story, but spending half of your movie with the romance of two people who have zero chemistry isn't a great idea. While Christensen and Portman are both very fine actors, their interactions in this film simply don't work, largely due to poorly written dialogue and lack of chemistry, which makes most of their scenes quite cringe-worthy to watch - Anakin's "I don't like sand" monologue is probably the most ridiculous moment in the entire franchise, although it has given birth to some good memes. Still, I'm a glass-half-full guy, so the film's many awesome qualities have more impact on me than the negative sides, therefore making this movie quite worth watching and likable as a whole.

9. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Solo is never a truly great Star Wars movie, nor does it try to be. Ron Howard set out to direct a thoroughly entertaining addition to the Star Wars universe, for those who love the character of Han Solo and want to see more of him, and in that he succeeded. While Harrison Ford's portrayal of the character is unmatched, Alden Ehrenreich is the next best thing and a very worthy actor to play a younger version of the character. I enjoy easter eggs and fan service in films, especially in franchise additions that are never meant to be all that serious, like this one - therefore it's very fun to see things like how Han Solo got his vest, how he met Chewbacca (played here by Finland's own Joonas Suotamo!) and how he got the Millennium Falcon. It's just a whole lot of fun.

The ensemble cast of the movie is a bit of a let-down - with actors as incredible as Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Paul Bettany and Thandie Newton, you'd expect a seriously memorable crew, but unfortunately their characters amount mainly to various generic sci-fi archetypes. An exception to that rule, however, is the young Lando Calrissian; Donald Glover is a pitch-perfect casting choice for his role, and his charismatic persona steals every scene he's in.

8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

The first major Star Wars film not to be an "Episode" in the main saga but rather a one-off story to expand the universe, Rogue One strikes a perfect balance between feeling just enough like Star Wars while still being clearly different and not depending on the success of the previous films. This balance is inherent in all parts of the film - the opening doesn't feature the iconic yellow text crawl that all of the Star Wars Episodes do, but it does feature the film's logo in a similar font to strike a similar tone. The iconic line "I've got a bad feeling about this", which is spoken at least once in every Star Wars Episode, is half-spoken here, as a character is about to say it but gets cut off. Familiar characters from the other films appear, but only for small cameos, not to steal the show. And so this movie manages to please fans who wanted more Star Wars by having fun references to it, but also to please viewers who wanted something different, as the main focus is in the film's brand-new characters and the story never depends on said references.

The main characters aren't as amazing as the crew from the original Star Wars trilogy, but they're certainly better than Solo's original characters. Felicity Jones is decent as leading lady Jyn Erso, while Diego Luna is memorable as the brash Cassian Andor and Alan Tudyk does a hilarious voice acting job as the droid K-2SO. Rogue One gets better throughout its runtime, with the clear highlight being the chain of unexpected events in the final 20 minutes or so. The film isn't a "must-watch" in order to understand the story of the Star Wars saga, but it's very much worth watching if you like the series and want more.

7. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

The most recent entry in the franchise, The Rise Of Skywalker makes for a very fine ending to the nine-episode Skywalker Saga. More or less the Avengers: Endgame of the Star Wars series, the film follows characters new and old all coming together in an ultimate showdown against antagonists Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Characters archs are fulfilled, closure is given to beloved characters, and every step of the journey is thoroughly entertaining.

The reason this is ranked lower than the other two films of the sequel trilogy is that parts of the film were a bit inconsistent and too pandering to fans; after Episode VIII - The Last Jedi was bombed by negative reviews, the writers went a bit too far into making this film different from it in order to please fans. Especially sidelining the character Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) completely after she had become the subject of (often racist and sexist) criticism from fans was a real jerk move. Still, as a whole there was a lot more to like in this movie then to dislike, and I felt it was quite an awesome conclusion to the trilogy of new films, as well as the whole nine-episode saga.

6. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

From a glass-half-empty point of view, I'm infuriated by this film, as it has the potential to be an absolute masterpiece yet is too flawed to be that. But luckily I'm not a very glass-half-empty person; as an optimist I hugely enjoy watching this film, because despite its flaws, there's so much to like that it has the potential of being a masterpiece!

Definitely the darkest Star Wars movie to date, this culmination of the prequel trilogy finally reveals how the downfall of the Jedi order, the rise of the Empire and the origin story of Darth Vader went down. Filled with interesting and gripping answers to long-awaited questions, the film does a great job with its pacing: the first act feels quite like a traditional Star Wars movie with its adventurous feeling and entertaining space battles, while the latter half of the movie gets downright heartbreaking with Anakin's storyline and the gut-wrenching Order 66 scene. Then there's the most dramatic lightsaber duel of the entire saga, fought to the backdrop of John Williams's equally dramatic music, and an epic final montage where all remaining major characters are seen winding up in their starting positions for the original trilogy.

The flawed parts that I mentioned are mainly in the often poorly written dialogue and clumsy acting that are a bit too present throughout the prequel trilogy - it certainly doesn't ruin the film for me, but it does keep it from being the masterpiece that the dark detailing of the Jedi Order's fall could have been. Still, most of the film is absolutely awesome, and it remains the highlight of the underrated (or rather over-hated) prequel trilogy!

5. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

The second film of the sequel trilogy is a bold one. It does what Deep Space Nine did for Star Trek and what Game Of Thrones did to the fantasy genre: it challenges its very nature with a more complex and deep feel to it, yet still holds on to its essence without going too far. The Last Jedi is an untypical Star Wars movie as it questions the heroic legacy of the Jedi Order, presents Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as a regretful old man, and defies fan-service culture by not pandering to what fans wanted or expected, and rather taking the story in an unexpected direction.

But while it holds a mirror up to some aspects of the Star Wars world, Episode VIII still is, at its core, a great Star Wars movie: there are fun moments, cool adventures, lightsaber duels and themes of heroism that feel even more powerful and earned due to the film's psychologically complex nature. When a movie isn't all fun and games, the fun and games feel like a big payoff. The film's ending is also one of the best in the whole saga, sending a powerful message that everything isn't about the main heroes saving the rest of the universe but rather that every ordinary person has the potential to be something great and change the world.

4. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

The impression I get from internet comments and reviews is that Star Wars fans are supposed to either passionately hate Episode VII for being unoriginal and love Episode VIII for being bold, or to love Episode VII for feeling like classic Star Wars and passionately hate Episode VIII for not doing that. I never really understood that divide, as I hugely enjoy and respect both of these very different films in different ways. While I appreciate The Last Jedi's bold writing and creative new direction, I also appreciate The Force Awakens's nostalgic power and original trilogy-esque atmosphere.

Episode VII walks the tightrope of being a love letter to the original trilogy while also setting the stage for a whole new generation of Star Wars - and J.J. Abrams does a perfect job with this challenge. The original Star Wars films have such a special place in my heart that the sheer power of seeing the return of characters like Han Solo (Harrison Ford), hearing classic pieces from the soundtrack and having an atmosphere very similar to the original trilogy is amazing. But the film doesn't coast only on nostalgia - that's only an extra flavor to the main events of starting the new trilogy. We're introduced to fantastic new characters like Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega), as well as fleshed-out villain Kylo Ren who would go on to be a constant high point of the sequel trilogy. Add to this balance of old & new an ending scene even more epic and spine-chilling than that of The Last Jedi (or, in my opinion, any other Star Wars film), and you have quite a magnificent movie on your hands.

3. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

It's a classic and a masterpiece in its own category. It's one of the greatest sequels ever made. And while it's slightly edged out by the other two films of the original trilogy in my subjective opinion, I can still see why The Empire Strikes Back is often regarded as the greatest Star Wars movie.

Episode V does a magnificent job walking the tightrope of being different enough from its predecessor to be interesting yet similar enough to feel like a proper sequel. Irvin Kershner's brilliant directorial choices make the film feel darker than the original Star Wars as the story's stakes get higher, yet it isn't too dark or serious - the film also keeps a lot of the fun adventurous elements of the original film in its substance. The result is a near-perfect mixture of high-stakes drama, epic battles, cool action and unforgettable dialogue. The Star Wars world is expanded in fascinating ways with additions like fan-favorite character Yoda (Frank Oz), the ice planet Hoth, and of course the possibly most iconic movie plot twist of all time (I won't spoil it here in case a person who has lived under a rock for 40 years reads this).

2. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983)

I have a huge soft spot for the final film of the original trilogy, which is generally considered to be the least good out of the three. This might have to do with my relationship with the franchise: my very favorite thing about Star Wars has always been the unique epic-yet-fun atmosphere. Some franchises, like The Lord Of The Rings or The Godfather trilogies, are more epic and high-stakes than they are purely fun, while others, like Back To The Future and the Marvel Cinematic Universe focus more on the fun, which draws slightly away from the dramatic scope. But no other franchise has nailed the combination of being staggeringly epic with larger-than-life themes and astronomical stakes, whilst simultaneously being filled to the brim with fun and zany elements and entertainment value, as perfectly as Star Wars - and that very phenomenon culminates in Episode VI.

The stakes have never been higher as they are in this film, with the Rebel Alliance taking its final stand against the Empire, and Luke Skywalker going up against the Emperor himself in a dark and grand standoff. But the fun part of the franchise is also more present than ever, with the adorable Ewoks of the forest moon Endor joining the story with their shenanigans. The combination of large, epic proportions and more cooled-down entertainment elements is perhaps at its best in a moment near the end of the film's first act, as the heroes escape from Jabba The Hutt's slave barge. The moment where R2-D2 sends Luke's lightsaber to its master in the nick of time, allowing him to escape, feels dramatic and game-changing while also being a cool action sequence that puts a smile on one's face. All in all, Return Of The Jedi perfects the franchise's signature atmosphere, while also serving as a great climax to the original trilogy's story.

1. Star Wars (Also known as Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) (1977)

Like in many other cases (although definitely not all of them), the first one is the best when it comes to Star Wars. While not the first film in chronological story order, as witnessed by the "Episode IV" in its title, A New Hope was the first Star Wars film to ever be made, and many regard it to be one of the most important movies in modern cinematic history. It served as an absolute game-changer to the science fiction genre while also spawning a massive franchise and a dangerously passionate fan base, but its impact on the world isn't the reason for it being #1 on my list. The reason for that is that Star Wars is the greatest adventure movie of all time, and a perfect film in its own right.

Seriously, there's nothing wrong with this movie in my honest opinion. Every element, from George Lucas's creative directing and John Williams's masterful soundtrack to Harrison Ford's iconic role performance and the amusing dialogue between the main characters is perfection. If you're looking for a fun adventure film, with likable characters and a badass villain and cool moments, you can't do any better than this masterpiece. While the story is simpler than in many other Star Wars movies, it works as just that: it doesn't need to be the epic story of a fight for the fate of the universe, when it works so well as a fun story about a group of heroes on a fascinating mission.


Thank you for reading - may the force be with you! Next Thursday will be the first Thursday of June a.k.a. Pride Month, so I'll be releasing my list of the top 10 LGBTQ+ movies!

R.I.P. Fred Willard: Top 10 Of His Funniest Roles

Greetings, reader!

I was originally going to release my ranking of the Star Wars movies today, as I mentioned in last week's blog, but then a more urgent topic came up - legendary comedy actor Fred Willard passed away last week, at the age of 86 years. Willard was not only among Hollywood's funniest actors, but his specific style of comedy was one worth celebrating, and one that the world needs more of: he nearly always played extremely likable roles, with heartfelt performances that never fail to make you smile. The genuine feel-good energy and innocence that he brought to so many characters is very much worth commemorating, so here is my list of the top 10 Fred Willard role performances.

The honorable mentions: Dave Campbell in Family Guy (1999-present), Dr. Willoughby in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004), Mission Commander in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Mr. Lipson in Friends (1994-2004)

10. Beezus in New Girl (2011-2018)

In the season 6 finale of New Girl, Willard only appears on screen for a minute or so, but absolutely steals the show. He plays an eccentric Uber driver called Beezus, the namesake of the episode (Five Stars For Beezus). His spontaneous bursting into song while driving Nick (Jake Johnson) home is pretty hilarious, as is his cheerful interaction with Nick at the end of the ride ("Don't forget to give me five stars!" - "Three and a half! Thanks, Beezus!").

9. Aslo in Epic Movie (2007)

Epic Movie is one of those movies that are best described as "not exactly Citizen Kane" - but as is the case with most films in the "genre-parodying films with 'movie' in the end of the title" -franchise, there are quite a few laughs to go with all the groans, and one of them is definitely Fred Willard's role as the lion-man Aslo. While the idea for the character is an admittedly lazy rip-off of the lion Aslan from the Narnia franchise, the film goes with the laziness and makes it a part of the joke, with the hilariously low-effort lion costume that the character dons. And Willard really sells the role, with his hysterical roar and ludicrous fight scene.

8. Wally Kogen in The Simpsons (1989-present)

In the Simpsons season 10 episode Sunday, Cruddy Sunday, Willard played a role very typical to him - just as a voice actor this time. His character, travel agent Wally Kogen, talks Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and the gang into going to see the Super Bowl together, which makes for some memorable hijinks. Willard is hilarious as Kogen, the typical one-episode character who is a relatively normal and amiable person, and who then gets sucked into the usual slapstick shenanigans of the series and reacts to the less normal antics of Homer and his friends. His pun about travel agents and their ability to "really go places" at the end of the episode is especially humorous, and classic Willard.

7. Harold Flaherty in American Wedding (2003)

Jesus, I didn't ever imagine that I'd do a blog post where Epic Movie and an American Pie sequel make it to the top 10 - goes to show than even in B-class comedy, a great supporting castmember can pull off very memorable roles and provide lots of laughs. That's certainly the case with the third film in the American Pie franchise, where Willard plays the father of major character Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), and brings his trademark charm and likability to the movie's wedding setting. The sheer normality and calmness of the character (as well as his wife, played by Deborah Rush) makes for a hilarious contrast to the absolutely chaotic nature of the franchise's main characters. The scene where Jim (Jason Biggs) tries to hide the elements of a crazy bachelor party from Willard's character as the two have increasingly tense interactions is probably the film's funniest moment.

6. Charlie in That 70's Show (1998-2006)

Mr. Willard really had a knack for making a guest appearance on just one episode of a sitcom but really making an impression with a hilarious role. One of the many examples can be found in the That 70's Show season 5 episode The Battle Of Evermore, where Willard and fellow guest star Seth Green absolutely nail it as an over-enthusiastic and over-competitive father-and-son duo. They come up against the show's regulars Eric (Topher Grace) and Red (Kurtwood Smith) in a fathers-and-sons lumberjack contrast, where their tight teamwork and chummy dialogue holds a comedic mirror to the dysfunctional relationship between Eric and Red. By the end of the episode it becomes clear that a bunch of the perfect family dynamic between the two has been just for show, thus giving Willard an opportunity to step out of his usual lovable character work into some equally funny dark comedy.

5. Air Base Colonel in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Much like in the sitcom world, Willard has also been known to create very funny and memorable character with very little screen time on the big screen as well. In one of the best sequences of the classic 80's mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, the titular band arrives to play a gig at an air force base. Willard plays the colonel who greets them, armed with his classic wit and wordplay. One of his strengths as a comedy actor is playing supporting characters who are very different from the main characters in an amusing way (as you may have noticed from many of the list's entries), and that element is very present here, with his military precision making for a sharp contrast to the slow-witted band members.

4. Ed Harken in Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Fred Willard always was a subtle comedian, who created laughs with casual wordplay and a cheerful attitude. And the value of subtle comedy is quite clear in Anchorman, where virtually every other character is loud, obnoxious and over-the-top. While Will Ferrell is being his slapstick self and Steve Carell is testing the limits of how funny the "dumb guy" trope can be, Willard plays it cool as their boss, Ed Harken.

His character is there to move the plot forward more than to make the audience laugh, yet he often ends up stealing the show from the background as his own brand of humor feels very refreshing in Anchorman's environment. Thus, he ends up providing some of the film's funniest moments - especially the wonderfully context-free phone call scenes with an upset nun and later with his problematic son - while not relying on catchphrases and physical comedy like the rest of the cast. Willard was a genuinely and effortlessly funny person, and thus caused many a laugh even when playing someone who'd seem to be the film's most boring character on paper.

3. Alter-Pierce in Community (2009-2015)

In the season 4 premiere of my all-time favorite sitcom Community, Abed (Danny Pudi) copes with the prospects of his final school year by going to a "happy place" in his mind where all is well, and thus we get to see a very different version of Greendale Community College: the color scheme is brighter, there's a laugh track, and major character Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase) is played by Fred Willard. In the most meta role I've seen him in, Willard played Fred Willard playing Pierce Hawthorne within Abed's own imagination - and what a perfect idea this was.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a huge fan of how Pierce's character is handled in the show's writing, and the series seems to reference the character's controversial nature with this idea of Pierce being more likable - and who better to make him likable than the guy who made a career out of playing likable comedy characters? It's a shame that we never got to see more of Willard's take on Pierce, but what we got in this episode was comedy gold.

2. Buck Laughlin in Best In Show (2000)

Between This Is Spinal Tap and Modern Family, Willard was certainly no stranger to the mockumentary format - and this Christopher Guest mockumentary provides one of his absolutely most lovable and hilarious roles. Best In Show is a light-hearted film about a dog show, where Willard plays Buck Laughlin, one of the two commentators of the event. With a slick bow-tie look and his signature comedic style, he plays a memorable role as a character clearly more suited to be a commentator in a major league sports game than a dog show. Laughlin's total lack of dog-related knowledge is a running joke throughout the movie, as his co-commentator Trevor (Jim Piddock) is clearly an expert on the subject while Laughlin is ridiculously out of his depth. This makes for a multitude of laughs, as the banter between the commentators consists mostly of Willard's character asking dumb questions and stating falsehoods with a confident smile, and his counterpart calmly correcting him. You can't help but the love the character and his totally oblivious comments throughout the film.

Oh, and a majority of his dialogue is improvised - Guest made a script where ad-libbing was encouraged, and Willard was used to improv-style acting, so many of his lines in the film came off the cuff. That makes the sheer comedic value of the character a lot more impressive.

1. Frank Dunphy in Modern Family (2009-2020)

Unless I've missed something even better, this is Fred Willard's definitive role. When I heard that he had passed away, my mind immediately went to Phil Dunphy's (Ty Burrell) dad from Modern Family, and only a while later I remembered all the other things that he'd been in. Appearing in 14 episodes across the show's 11 seasons in a beloved recurring role, Frank Dunphy embodies everything about what kind of an actor Willard was and what roles he was good at. While the character is absolutely hilarious in his endearing dorkiness and his hijinks with his equally dorky son, it's not all in the humor - for every laugh he causes, there's also a genuine smile. His character brings about some of the show's most heartfelt moments, as he's such a kind person - even many of the jokes in his appearances revolve around him being ridiculously and unrealistically kind and selfless.

The success of Phil Dunphy as a character (something I'm very serious and defensive about) is largely due to him being painted as the perfect father character for a comedy series - there's an infinite amount of "dorky dad" humor but also the genuine care and love he shows for his wife and children. And Fred Willard's character is equally funny and equally touching as the perfect dad of the perfect dad, showing the audience where Phil got those traits from. It takes some skill to play a character who will make you laugh but also warm your heart with every scene he's in.

You will be missed, Fred. Thank you for the laughs.


Thank you for reading! I'll be sharing my ranking of the Star Wars movies next week - see you then!

Top 10 TV Dramas Of All Time

Hello, dear reader!

Since I ranked my favorite television sitcoms of all time last month, it is now time to look at the other side of the coin and rank my favorite drama shows. This was a particularly tough one as there are so many good series that I have watched, but after a lot of hard work I managed to narrow it down to 10 favorites and put them in order. Here are my honorable mentions:

Barry (2018-Present), Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Homeland (2011-2020), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999), The Walking Dead (2010-Present)

10. The Sopranos (1999-2007)

This mega-appreciated mafia drama is truly the Godfather of television shows. Along with HBO's The Wire, The Sopranos ushered in the golden era of drama television as the medium started to work towards longer storylines instead of individual episodic stories, ambitious production values instead of saving-based budgets and an overall cinematic feel instead of being a lower form of art than movies.

The Sopranos has world-class acting by everyone in the main cast, as well as impeccable writing and sharp dialogue. The main character, antihero Tony Soprano, is a fleshed-out and realistic character brought to life by the late great James Gandolfini, and his journey is one very much worth watching. If you have the stomach for all the gruesome and dark realities of organized crime that the series doesn't shy away from, you'll be rewarded by a surprising amount of humor and entertainment to balance out the more horrifying aspects of the story. And the final season (especially the final episode (and especially the final scene)) is one for the ages.

9. Dexter (2006-2013)

An other antihero-based crime drama, Dexter just works on so many levels. The main character is a serial killer, but that's just the tip of the iceberg - his origin story is one of a man grown up as a sociopath, whose adoptive father tried to channel his violent instincts towards a good cause, and implanted him with a moral code of only killing other serial killers who have escaped the justice system. This makes for some truly fantastic philosophy, as every season features multiple interesting ethical dilemmas that really make one think. Dexter is also amazing on a psychological level, as we follow a (relatively) realistic portrayal of a sociopath who is trying to be a better person despite his inability to experience conventional compassion, and the main character's constant voiceover narration makes for some truly deep pondering.

Themes aside, Dexter is also the top of its class as a mere crime series. The main character may be a killer vigilante at night, but by day he is a forensic analyst for the police, and this double life leads to an endless supply of cover-ups, close calls, identity revelations and panic situations that have the viewer on the edge of their seat. Each season also has a unique main villain, and they're all very memorable and well-written, from John Lithgow's creepy Trinity Killer to Colin Hanks's ominous Doomsday Killer. AMC's Breaking Bad may have barely missed the cut for this list of mine, but I'll use this opportunity to recommend Dexter for fans of Breaking Bad: the two shows share the aspects of brilliantly built tension, escalating chaos and explosive resolutions to plotlines.

8. Sherlock (2010-2017)

Adapting Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books into a modern high-budget television series has all the makings of a TV gem by itself. But when you add world-class actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to play Holmes and Watson, you have a pretty much guaranteed hit on your hands. Then add one of my favorite fictional writers, Steven Moffat, to be the showrunner, and the premise starts to become immune to ever failing. And to top all of that, have the seasons be three 90-minute episodes long yet spend two or more years making each season, just to make sure that each episode is a cinematic piece of art worth watching multiple times. Now that's the recipe for a great series.

BBC's Sherlock has all of that going for it, and more. I'm a big fan of its stylistic balance as well, as it walks the tightrope between cute entertainment (the chemistry between Cumberbatch and Freeman makes for hours worth of fun banter throughout the series) and dark psychological drama (the series doesn't shy away from the original idea of Holmes as a high-functioning sociopath). Then there's the fact that the show's version of James Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott, might just be my favorite television villain of all time, with his genius plots and unsettling yet charismatic antics making for the perfect counterpart to Cumberbatch's Sherlock.

7. 24 (2001-2010; 2014)

With 24, it's all about the premise, which just may the best of its kind in the world of television. The series takes place in real time, with each season being 24 episodes long and therefore following an intense 24-hour period. The actual plot of the series follows a counter-terrorist agent who is constantly rushing to save Los Angeles (or sometimes New York / Washington D.C.) from various terrorist threats - a setting that provides the perfect amount of intensity to the compact and eventful idea of following events in real time. Apart from the genius concept and the dark yet intriguing setting of the counter-terrorism world, the series also has some great action, a signature style with its shared-screen effect and ample use of the phrase "Dammit", and one hell of a cast of characters.

Kiefer Sutherland is pitch perfect as Jack Bauer, one of TV's most compelling main characters (and certainly the most badass character in the entire medium). While the rich and colorful supporting cast shifts around throughout the years, an important constant from season 3 onward is analyst Chloe O'Brian, played in one of television's most unique performances by Mary Lynn Rajskub. Her friendship with Jack is a powerful and heartfelt one, creating a nice backdrop to the show's grim terrorism plotlines, tough ethical dilemmas and nefarious villains. I've planned to watch one of 24's seasons in real time for an epic 24-hour marathon this summer with a friend of mine - perhaps a chronicle of that experience could make for an interesting blog post.

6. Doctor Who (1963-1989; 2005-Whenever the world ends)

At this point, it's more of a generation-transcending cultural phenomenon than a mere television series. Doctor Who has more or less gained immortality after being brought back from the dead after cancellation, surviving thirteen different actors taking their turn in the main role, and proving time and again that there's always time (and space) for more Doctor Who. When your premise is that of a charismatic alien who can travel anywhere in space and time, as well as being able to avoid death by regenerating into a new body, you simply never run out of new story ideas. And that is how Doctor Who has managed to keep going for decades, and likely will do so till the end of time. (Additional note: The End Of Time (2009) is a damn good Doctor Who episode).

The series, as well at its ever-changing main character, strikes a hilarious balance of being extremely alien yet extremely British at the same time. Sure, the Doctor comes from the mysterious planet Gallifrey and has two hearts and whatnot, but he was also once woken up from a coma by the smell of tea. There's something to love about every incarnation of the Doctor, from William Hartnell's original cranky-old-man and Tom Baker's iconic goofball to David Tennant's quirky and amiable hero and Jodie Whittaker being splendid as the first female incarnation of the character. The same can be said for the large supply of companion characters, fascinating alien races, and legendary villains. The series has had an astonishing amount of amazing episodes in its run, with my absolute favorites being the 50th anniversary special The Day Of The Doctor (2013), where many incarnations of the main hero team up together to resolve a decades-old storyline in an epic fashion, and Blink (2007), which I can honestly call the most ingeniously written piece of fiction I have ever come across.

5. Mr. Robot (2015-2019)

I haven't even seen the fourth and final season of USA Network's Mr. Robot yet - a season that I've heard fans call the greatest season of TV they've ever seen, but that I'm still waiting to appear on HBO Nordic so I can watch it with good quality (Yes, I could simply buy the season somewhere, but sometimes my student budget exceeds my need to immediately devour all of the interesting media that comes my way). But even now, based on the three first seasons, Mr. Robot makes it to my all-time top five. I can sum up the reasons for it being ranked so high by referencing the shows I've talked about so far on my list: Mr. Robot is what you get when you combine the cinema-quality writing and directing efforts of The Sopranos, the complex psychology of Dexter, the clever genius of Sherlock, the intensity of 24 and the creative strangeness of Doctor Who. Basically, it pushes all the buttons of my taste in television.

Following the psychedelic journey of hacker activist Elliot Alderson, played in a larger-than-life pitch-perfect performance by Oscar winner Rami Malek, Mr. Robot is somewhat of an "unreliable narrator" -story where what is seen on screen never quite matches what is really going on. Everything has to be interpreted by the viewer as the mysteries slow unfold, leading to many of TV's most shocking plot twists. In addition to the unconventional narrative, the series sets itself apart with things like some mind-boggling high-concept episodes, powerful societal criticism as a constant theme, and a very rare and intimate level of emotional investment in the characters and plot. Mr. Robot is a series that will make you want to change the world, as you follow its revolutionary storyline play out through depressing lows and uplifting highs - just don't watch too many episodes in a row late at night, or it may make you question your own reality and sanity with its paranoia-filled setting.

4. Lost (2004-2010)

The way I see it, Lost was poorly marketed. People were expecting a conventional island-survival series, Robinson Crusoe on the silver screen if you will, and then got disappointed when it took a turn to the supernatural and experimental. I believe that is why so many people have the opinion that Lost jumped the shark - an opinion that I couldn't figure out for the life of me when I first watched through this magnificent series. Maybe if it had been properly marketed as the infusion of survival drama and supernatural fantasy elements that creators Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse and J.J. Abrams always intended it to be, people would've gotten more on board with the series as it showed its true colors. Thankfully, I got a pretty good idea of where the series was headed when I was in the middle of the first season and googled "What is the black smoke in Lost" after thinking I might have missed something, only to find out that "Who is the black smoke in Lost" was a more popular search.

All six seasons of Lost are fantastic television. It has perhaps the best-written cast of characters of any television show, with its many fleshed-out individuals with mysterious pasts and powerful character archs. Everything about the characters, from the impressive acting performances bringing them to life to the well-written drama and relationships between them, is compelling. Then there's the mystery: no other series compares to Lost when it comes to creating intriguing mysteries, answering questions by creating more interesting questions, and ending on cliffhangers so amazing that you'll feel absolute frustration when the notorious "LOST" logo appears with its signature sound effect to signify the episode's ending - and you'll most likely have to watch the next one right away. Lost is a series where the viewer gets thoroughly invested in the well-developed characters, making for some tear-jerking moments as the later seasons especially feature some heartbreaking death scenes as well as heartwarming payoffs.

3. Person Of Interest (2011-2016)

The catastrophically underrated Person Of Interest is created by Jonathan Nolan - not only the brother of acclaimed movie director Christopher Nolan, but very much the Christopher Nolan of the television medium. Person Of Interest is a crime drama with just the right amount of science fiction to make it stick out amidst the genre. Every single episode features very clever writing, unpredictable moments, and just a lot of Nolan-esque genius going on. The plot of the series escalates with perfection, as the earlier seasons focus more on individual episode stories while the larger storylines are slowly built in the background, and in later seasons, those larger storylines take gradually over, leading to payoffs and climaxes of humongous and epic proportions in the final season. As I have mentioned in a previous blog, the final season of Person Of Interest is my favorite season of any TV series I've seen, and the series finale is my favorite television episode of all time.

Despite its more serious side, POI always remembers to pour the right amount of entertainment and humor into each episode - while definitely not a comedy, the well-timed moments of humor in this series have probably made me laugh more than the other nine shows on this list combined. And while the series is written by the same guy who created HBO's cold and distant Westworld, the show's exploration of computers and artificial intelligence certainly doesn't mean that POI wouldn't have heart - it has that more than hardly any other drama series I've seen. The character archs are incredibly touching and beautiful, as ex-CIA operative Reese (Jim Caviezel) finds new purpose in life, detective Fusco (Kevin Chapman) tries to leave his corrupt past behind him and start fresh, and the show's beating heart Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) - well, his character arch is too majestic to discuss here without spoilers, but just thinking of it makes me emotional. Watch for yourself, and you'll see what I mean.

2. Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)

First of all, the order of my top 2 was nearly impossible to decide, as they are virtually tied for the place of my all-time favorite. If you asked me tomorrow, Game Of Thrones might be at first place - but as of now, according to a gut feeling, it is barely edged out by the other series in my top two.

The Wire and The Sopranos may have started the ascent of television towards being a form of art akin to cinema, but Game Of Thrones is the culmination of this movement. Every bit as epic as The Lord Of The Rings, as well-produced as The Godfather and as artistic and game-changing for its own medium as Citizen Kane, this series is one for the history books. With magnificent visuals, top notch cinematography and massive meticulous set design, the show's high-budget production values are grand and flawless. Miguel Sapochnik's visionary battle sequences in episodes like Battle Of The Bastards (2016) and The Long Night (2020) are honestly more impressively directed than any movie battle scene I have seen. Yet it's not all about how it looks: the substance of the series is arguably even better.

Game Of Thrones has some of television's best-written characters (although obviously much of the credits goes to George R. R. Martin, who wrote the books that the series is based on), from the unlikely tragic hero Jon Snow (Kit Harington) to the incredibly complex and fleshed-out antihero Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen). The pacing of the series is wonderful, as the earlier seasons set everything up with an intriguing slow pace, which gradually escalates into the fast-paced series of payoffs and resolutions in the latter seasons. The series can be dark, shocking and brutal at times, yet there are also absolutely beautiful moments of friendship and heroism to balance it out. The Shakespearean power dynamics of the titular game of thrones are fascinating to behold, as various players navigate their way through gripping wars and complicated politics in attempts to rule. All in all, this series is quite the masterpiece.

1. Twin Peaks (1990-1991; 2017)

Game Of Thrones may be the perfect conventional series with its culmination of just how good TV characters, storylines, production values and payoffs can be - but David Lynch's cult hit Twin Peaks is the perfect unconventional series. One part soap opera, one part philosophical rumination of "what even is a soap opera?", one part murder mystery, one part avant-garde painting come to life, one part exploration of small town America, one part supernatural fantasy series and about eight parts psychedelic fever dream, Twin Peaks is a truly unique watching experience. Bizarre in the most wonderful way, it is the ethos of all things David Lynch: deep messages about other worlds existing within or beyond our own, a meta-commentary look at a popular genre, a very unconventional narrative and an artistic style of writing and directing are all present.

While very different from my other favorite show, Peaks has one important factor in common with Thrones: the balance of brutal darkness and powerful hope stemming from within. While Twin Peaks features violence, unsettling imagery and some horrible and shocking moments, it is still the most beautiful and hope-inducing series I've seen. There is an underlying beauty always present that makes watching the series an ultimately uplifting experience, as the good within humans is explored just as thoroughly as the evil. This beauty is especially present in Angelo Badalamenti's magnificent soundtrack, the lore surrounding Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) and what she stood for in the show's mythology, and of course the character of Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan). Cooper may be just a fictional character, but he's the best damn fictional character of all time in my opinion, to the point that his worldview has affected my own one in a very positive manner. Cooper's magical enthusiasm, optimistic attitude and overall presence overcome all of the evil spirits of and dark themes of the series, making for some of the most heartfelt and smile-worthy moments in television history.

But while there are other things to love about the series than its trademark strangeness, well, I also love the strangeness. A big part of it being my all-time favorite is the same reason why 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is one of my all-time favorite movies: it breaks all barriers and limitations of the medium, doing something no one has done before, with unmatched creativity and groundbreaking imagination. Lynch manages to make the series so experimental that pretty much every viewer, depending on taste, finds it either extremely off-putting or absolutely fascinating - and I'm definitely in the latter half. I don't think a TV series can have a more powerful impact than making the world a more magical place, or a better legacy than fans still debating what it all means 30 years later - and Twin Peaks has accomplished both of those things with perfection.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next Thursday for my ranking of all Star Wars movies!

Ranking The Friday The 13th Movies

Hello, dear reader!

Two days from now, the Friday The 13th franchise will be 40 years old - the first installment of this iconic horror franchise was released on May 9th, 1980. To celebrate this milestone, I shall be ranking all 12 films of this franchise, because for some reason I have seen all 12. Ranging from exciting to horrible, terrifying to laughable, and from Camp Crystal Lake all the way to outer space, this franchise has definitely had its highs and lows - and here they are, from lowest low to highest high.

12. Friday The 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

For me, the worst of the worst in this slasher franchise isn't one of the most far-out ones where Jason Voorhees goes to space or hell (yes, those are both real movies, this franchise is crazy). I prefer crummy sequels that are at least creative and different to sequels that are simply lazy and unoriginal, and that is why this fifth installment of the franchise is so unimpressive. The directorial style, horror and overall setting feel so tired after the previous four movies, which feels especially insulting as the film's title literally promises a new beginning. The only ways where A New Beginning differs from its predecessor are some awful story choices; I won't spoil the ending if someone is interested in watching this film (although you really should think twice on that), but there's a laughable set of plot twists that wrap the movie up. The film's most positive quality is having the wonderful character Tommy Jarvis return to be the protagonist, but even that is flawed as John Shepherd isn't nearly as good in the heroic role as his other portrayals in the franchise.

11. Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

The protagonist in the seventh installment to the series is a girl called Tina (Lar Park-Lincoln), who has telekinetic powers. This turns out to be both the film's biggest asset and its biggest downside. On one hand, having a main character with supernatural abilities is a way of being interesting and different instead of repeating the same old stuff, so this hero was certainly a better choice than focusing on regular group of horny teenagers for the seventh time. On the other hand, the writers could have dreamed up something more interesting, as no one was really asking for a Jason vs. Carrie match-up. The telekinetic powers -narrative is different, but not in a particularly intriguing way. The film is watchable enough and certainly better than A New Beginning, but it's not really anything special; other than the powers of the main hero, the film falls into similar tropes as the previous installments, making for quite a cliché and predictable slasher. It also falls into the middle ground of not being particularly scary like the first entries in the franchise, but also not being very fun and entertaining like some later ones.

10. Jason X (2002)

A lot of people might put this on the last spot, but as mentioned above, I prefer a far-out film that's at least memorable and bold to a lazy same-old-same-old sequel. And boy, this movie certainly is far out; it takes place in the future, as the frozen corpse of Jason Voorhees is accidentally awakened in space. While the premise is way too ridiculous to make for a seriously good movie, it sure as hell is enough to make for an entertaining guilty pleasure movie. It isn't particularly scary, well-written or well-acted, but it's a bunch of fun if you turn your brain all the way off. There's even some clever meta humor towards the end, proving that the writers did have some smart ideas. When the eventual next installment to this undying franchise is made (BTW: the next one will be the 13th Friday The 13th, so it must be something special), I wouldn't mind if picked off from where this film ends, instead of rebooting the character for more of the same old stuff at Camp Crystal Lake.

9. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Much like Jason X, this film is bonkers. But it's a surprisingly interesting direction to take the Jason Voorhees story. The aforementioned villain is killed (sort of) in the very first scene, but his soul starts to inhabit people as it tries to make its way back to its original body. While the film doesn't feature a whole lot of classic hockey-mask Jason, here are some things it does feature: a fresh setting, different type of horror than other films in the franchise (there's a lot of Cronenberg-esque body horror in this one), a bunch of origin story-like lore surrounding Jason and his powers, and even setting up the table for the crossover film Freddy Vs. Jason (more on that one later). At times, Jason Goes To Hell can be clumsy, and more often than not it takes itself too seriously, but there's still a whole lot to like if you've been on board with the franchise long enough to make it to this strange film.

8. Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Many fans of the franchise hate this one for failing to deliver on its titular promise: a majority of the film takes place on a ship on its way to Manhattan, and only in the very tail end of the film do we see Jason Voorhees taking on the city of New York. I have no problem with that; while Manhattan is the milieu of many of the world's best films, I don't see the prospect of Jason Voorhees running around its crowded streets as particularly interesting. Where's the horror in a colorful city that never sleeps? Jason Voorhees boarding a large ship full of youngsters on their way to New York, and discretely making his way through this ship in the middle of a cold and misty river, on the other hand? Now that's a horror movie.

While parts of Jason Takes Manhattan are surprisingly good horror (not nearly as good as the first entries in the franchise, but certainly better than the likes of Jason X), other moments are over-the-top and silly in the tradition of late Friday The 13th films. It's just scary enough to be a better horror film than Jason Goes To Hell or Jason X, but also memorable and campy enough to beat out ones like A New Beginning that take themselves too seriously. It's far from being a great film, but in the context of this flawed yet entertaining franchise, it's quite a fine one.

7. Friday The 13th Part III (1982)

Now we start to arrive at the installments that I really like quite a lot. Mind you, Part III is far from perfect: the group of cliché horny teenagers dying one by one at Crystal Lake for the third time in a row starts to feel quite repetitive. Still, the movie has strengths: a likable and memorable protagonist Chris (Dana Kimmell), good pacing as the build-up of tension escalates into a fast-paced climax smoothly, as well as some well-built horror sequences. The film's greatest strength is in the look of Jason Voorhees; this is the first film where he wears his iconic hockey mask. Jason Voorhees didn't have such a strong beginning as Michael Myers of the Halloween franchise of Freddie Krueger of Nightmare On Elm Street, but this is the film where he truly came into his own as an iconic horror villain - and a lot of this is thanks to the hockey mask, and the terrifying magnificence that comes with it.

6. Friday The 13th Part II (1981)

Many would rank this installment higher, but here's my problem with this otherwise awesome sequel: it's too serious for this franchise. That's a weird thing for me to say, as I generally prefer serious horror movies to silly ones. But Friday The 13th is a franchise with such an outlandish premise, that this particular series works much better when it has a tongue-in-cheek feel to it. The mix of more serious horror with the premise of a vengeful mutant killer killing horny teenagers one by one is a bit clumsy at times, as is the character of Jason Voorhees itself. This is the first film to have him as a main villain (don't forget, Voorhees's mother was the antagonist in the first Friday The 13th), and he hasn't quite come into his own yet - the pillowcase he wears over his head is much less frightening than the hockey mask he would find in the next movie.

Other than those aspects, this film is very enjoyable and successful. The characters are more realistic and less caricature-like than in pretty much any other Friday The 13th, and the horror itself is very well-built. Whether it's the first act's creepy build-up where the youths share myths of Jason Voorhees by a campfire, or the final act's exciting showdown, the sequel is certainly one of the scarier entries in the franchise.

5. Friday The 13th (2009)

And here, ladies and gentlemen, we have an extremely rare occurrence: a very decent horror movie remake. Sure, 2009's Friday The 13th isn't exactly Citizen Kane, and technically it's more of a reboot / pseudo-sequel than a remake, but the bottom line is that I enjoyed this film quite a lot. Supernatural's Jared Padalecki and The Flash's Danielle Panabaker deliver acting that feels way too good for this franchise, Marcus Nispel does a solid job directing as the film feels scary and focused, and the production values are infinitely better than in the several sequels that came before this. The setting of Crystal Lake had been overdone to death in the franchise before it moved to other terrain, but after expanding the franchise to Hell and space and whatnot, it felt like a refreshing change to return to a dark and updated version of the place where it all began.

My favorite part of the film (and possibly of the entire franchise, to be honest) is the opening sequence: before the opening title, we get a sequence over 20 minutes long that has the viewer on the edge of their seat with its mounting tension and well-built horror. While many of the more outlandish sequels of the 90's and early 00's had been entertaining guilty pleasure films, the franchise hadn't been actually scary for a very long time - but this film, and especially this masterfully crafted opening sequence - sure brought the horror back.

4. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

It's ridiculous. It's way over the top. It's filled with cringe-worthy dialogue and gory violence. So, yeah, I'd say the crossover between the Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The 13th franchises is everything people were expecting, and everything I wanted it to be. If you feel like conventionally good cinema with sharp production quality and sense-making writing, then maybe don't watch Freddy Vs. Jason. But if you like slasher films, ambitious crossovers, and sheer entertainment, then this film sure delivers.

While many parts of the plot are quite inconsistent and even dumb, the way the two iconic villains are brought together is actually quite ingenious. Freddy Krueger of the Elm Street franchise has an intriguing dynamic with Friday The 13th's own Jason Voorhees, as the two slasher villains couldn't be more different - Freddy's constant zingers and creepy charisma make for quite a hilarious backdrop to the hockey-masked villain who hasn't spoken a word in 12 movies. The film follows them buddying up to kill a bunch of teenagers together, before they turn against each other, culminating in a very entertaining fight scene. There's a lot to like in this film if you're a fan of the franchises - just do yourself a favor and, for the love of God, don't take it too seriously.

3. Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

Jason Lives is a crucial turning point for the franchise. After many films of not quite finding the right style to make this franchise the best version of itself, the writers finally cracked the case: don't take it too seriously. Many horror franchises may be at their best when they're serious instead of when they start joking around too much (watch Halloween: Resurrection for an illuminating case study), but as mentioned, this is no ordinary horror franchise. The character of Jason is arguably at its best when he's written in a tongue-in-cheek way, and it works wonders in this film especially, after the joyless A New Beginning that preceded it.

This film isn't as far out as Jason Takes Manhattan or Jason X, so there's still some actual horror and substance; but there's also a bunch of entertainment value, as the film has fun with itself which made for a fresh change of pace. Beloved hero character Tommy Jarvis returns for a final appearance, this time played by Thom Mathews and being the perfect guy to go up against the resurrected and zombified Jason Voorhees in an epic (well, epic by this franchise's standards) final standoff.

2. Friday The 13th (1980)

In a shocking twist, Friday The 13th becomes the only horror franchise I've come across where the first film isn't the best. That's partially because the franchise, while often entertaining and worth watching for fans of the genre, never had a masterpiece in its ranks. The original Halloween and Nightmare On Elm Street films are two absolute masterpieces, as I have mentioned in my list of the top 10 horror movies of all time, but the original Friday The 13th isn't. It's a classic in its own right for sure, and a very decent horror film that spawned an iconic franchise, but it's also deeply flawed. The acting for the most part is very mediocre, with the exception of a young Kevin Bacon being awesome as supporting character Jack. The style isn't innovative and groundbreaking like in many first installments of horror films, but rather the style of a typical 80's slasher film. And, Jason Voorhees isn't the main villain yet - Betsy Palmer's Mrs. Voorhees is an okay villain, but certainly not as scary and memorable as his son who would take over the franchise in the sequels.

Why would I put a film with lame acting, an unoriginal style and a second-rate villain in second place then, you might ask? Well, first of all, lame acting absolutely defines this franchise and is present in pretty much every installment. And while the style of horror isn't exactly original, it isn't bad either: I like the slasher genre in its own way, after all, and this manages to be a very above-average slasher with its exciting horror sequences and thrilling climax. But most importantly of all comes the lore. Perhaps my favorite part of the Friday The 13th franchise is the well-built lore around the cursed Crystal Lake, the mysterious drowned boy, and all the supernatural phenomena that happens around it. And this is the film that created that, making for conversation scenes creepier than any of the actual kills in the film, and building a world that would spawn several entertaining sequels. It's far from perfect, but it got a lot right and started a franchise as successful and cult-followed as it is strange and flawed.

1. Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

It kills me how this franchise has both "The Final Chapter" and "The Final Friday" in its titles and neither one wound up being the final film of the series. That being said, this fourth film of the franchise is even a notch above the original, thus being the best that the series has had to offer. My opinion of this film may be boosted by the fact that the watching experience was so memorable, but then again, one person's movie ranking isn't meant to be objective.

The Final Chapter is not a perfect horror movie, but it is the perfect Friday The 13th movie. The franchise itself has some deep-rooted issues that prevent it from producing a truly great movie - namely that the balance of a ridiculous premise and the want for actual horror is impossible to get completely right. But this fourth installment of the franchise is absolutely the best version of itself that Friday The 13th could ever hope to be. There's a lot of well-built horror, but also a bunch of entertainment as the film doesn't exactly feel too serious while still being focused. Jason Voorhees is a terrifying villain here but also a well-written one, as the film delves into his traumatic past and psychosexual motivations like no other.

The film gains a lot from having perfect pacing (neither the creepy build-up of the first act nor the intense showdown of the final act feel too long), as well as having moving parts: for the first time, it isn't simply a group of horny teenagers dying off one by one. There's also a huntsman in the woods looking for vengeance against Jason for killing his sister, as well as a family with a child who have a cabin nearby and get sucked into the action. The movie benefits from having these storylines and characters one actually cares about - especially the hero Tommy Jarvis, who has his first appearance here and is wonderfully played by 80's child star Corey Feldman. With a perfect pace, a great balance of horror and entertainment elements, a likable hero, a terrifying villain and an intense final act, this is the best installment that the franchise has had to offer.


Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my ranking of the top 10 TV dramas of all time, and don't forget to subscribe by e-mail via the text box below!